Chris Granger, The Times-Picayune archiveMayor-elect Mitch Landrieu with members of his education task force on March 9.From restoring curbside recycling to overhauling the code enforcement system to improving the City Hall budget process, Mayor-elect Mitch Landrieu heard today from 17 citizen task forces charged with offering policy advice in the run-up to his May 3 inauguration.

After receiving 80 recommendations from panels led by a who's who of New Orleans' community, business, political and social advocates, Landrieu -- in trademark style -- launched into a meticulous review of the major themes.

He then committed to exploring how to make the ideas a reality, but only with the help of the task for members and the hundreds of residents whose input helped shape the vision they laid out.

"There is a moment when people have got to stop going in a whole bunch of different directions and focus on a common vision," the mayor-elect told dozens of task force members who gathered for a public meeting at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts.

"That is what we have to do in this city," he said. "It was very important to me for all of your to be involved. I'm not going to do this by myself. I couldn't if I tried."

While some task forces offered highly specific recommendations, such as to create a citywide map of blighted properties and to establish expert committees to review proposals for professional services contracts, others made vague suggestions, including calling on Landrieu to "address" the needs of the homeless and the scarcity of affordable housing.

Nearly all of the panels recommended that a cabinet-level position or a department be created to address their particular issue. All needed money to accomplish their goals.

Perhaps the most eagerly awaited report, from the panel charged with helping Landrieu choose a police superintendent, offered an update on its progress. Co-chair Nolan Rollins, executive director of the local Urban League office, said more than 85 applicants have sought the job, which Landrieu had hoped to fill by the time he takes the oath of office but which he acknowledges may take more time.

Landrieu said the International Association of Chiefs of Police, which the task force hired to cull the pool to about a dozen candidates, has interviewed 22 applicants and expects to settle on its short list this week. Task force members then will conduct their own interviews to whittle down the slate to three candidates, from which Landrieu may choose the next chief.

Experts who have reviewed the applications "have never seen a group like this all manifest themselves at one time," Landrieu said.